Where Is Aniysah?

I wrote in an email today that "white privilege means not having to do much while still feeling righteous". I'm part of that problem. I don't do enough.

But I want to do more. White privilege also means that white people are more likely to listen when I speak. So I will speak, or in this case- copy and paste.

Black and brown children are way more likely than white children to be taken from their mothers by "the system" and we are the system. Just like we treat poverty as a criminal act, we treat blackness and browness as criminal acts, and judge parents of color with much harsher lenses than we use for white parents.

This is an action item. Do something. Repost this, show up. Don't think that just "not being a racist" is enough. It's not. This is someone's baby girl who is missing. This is a mother who feels the loss of that child like it's a missing limb. If you're a parent and you've ever had that panicked moment where a kid wanders off in the grocery store- imagine if that feeling went on for 6 months or longer.

Where Is Aniysah?

From Document the Silence:

On March 3rd, 2009 six year old Aniysah was taken from her mother’s arms and thrown into a legal shuffle of unaccountability, instability and discrimination. There were no records verifying that she would be taken to a safe living environment or that she was enrolled in school. Questions about her health and well-being went unanswered. That was 150 days ago. To date, Aniysah remains lost in the legal system. A system where black and brown children go missing everyday. A system where black mothers like Aniysah’s are often left to fend for themselves in a brutal, dogged battle just to make sure their children are safe.



It’s time to hold the legal system accountable. Document the Silence asks that you join them in the “Where’s Aniysah?” campaign by posting information about this case on your blogs, online social networks and throughout your community. You can find out more about this campaign to stand against injustices against our children in the legal system by visiting the Document the Silence website .

Where’s Aniysah? What you can do!

* Show up! – Are you going to be in the NYcity area August 24th? Come to Aniysah’s court date and show the judge and the law guardian you care! Even if you can’t make it, invite your friends who can! The deets:The next court date is August 24th, 2009 at 11AM and the address is :IDV PartCourtroom E-123, Annex BuildingJustice Fernando M. CamachoQueens County IDV Court,Queens County Supreme CourtCriminal Term 125-01 Queens BlvdKew Gardens, New York 11415

* Spread the word!- send this website out to everyone you know. tell them why this is important. post to your facebook account. forward on your many list serves. post Aniysah’s mom youtube clip on your facebook page. write a blog about her story. email everyone you know and don’t know.

* Speak up! – do you know of other children of color who have been lost in the legal shuffle? Let’s document the silence of court sanctioned kidnapping that is happening to black and brown women and children across the country! email us at beboldbered@gmail.com and we will add your story to the website.

Via Elle Phd